Former Madoff Employee’s Plea Delayed Because of Health Issue

The expected guilty plea of a former employee of convicted Ponzi scheme operator Bernard Madoff has been delayed after he suffered “an emergency medical condition,” his lawyer said in a letter made public Thursday.

Irwin Lipkin, who had previously denied knowledge of the massive fraud in court papers, was admitted to a New Jersey hospital “for observation and treatment of [a] kidney condition,” his lawyer David M. Richman said in a letter to the court.

Mr. Lipkin, the former controller of Mr. Madoff’s firm, was expected to plead guilty as early as Thursday to making false statements in regulatory filings, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and other crimes. He faces up to 10 years in prison on the charges.